Maine Event: Day 47

An utterly fun and wonderful day spent on Chebeague Island (pronounced Shabig). The ferry ride is a full two hours from Portland. There is also a quick 15 min. ferry from Cousin's island which is connected by bridge to Yarmouth, which is a town a bit north of Portland. We meant to go and walk across a sand spit at low tide and go to Little Chebeague which is completely uninhabited and is less than 3/4 of a mile long. It has beaches and dense shrubs and lots of birds. It was used in WWII as a Fire Fighters School for the Navy. Virtually all of the islands have remnants of WWII stuff on them. Needless to say, we missed a turnoff and went on a different wonderful walk. We forgot to take screenshots of the map and there is no cellular or wifi on the islands in most places. 

Chebeague Island is the largest of the islands in Casco Bay. Chebeague Island also seceded from Portland in 2007 because of too high of taxes for too few services. The year-round population is around 350. It is said to triple in the summer when there are many weddings. The name comes from the Abenaki Native Americans and was a fishing area.

There is the Chebeague Island Inn (we saw its van) as well as lots of vacation rentals and the Great Chebeague Golf Course. Here is a link to the map of the islands that the ferry goes to. We have gone to most of the island and due to COVID-19, they are not going to Bailey Island which is the furthest out from Portland on the ferry but you can also drive to it further up the coast. It's not exactly an island as it is connected. 

I got up early and went to the farmer's market for a few vegetables and other things. I love the beauty of having it in the park which feels like a real park. The duck pond and bridge are amazing. The park in Paonia when I was growing up was a large green grassy area with many large gorgeous trees and a statue as a monument to all the people killed in mining accidents – it was erected in 1888. The park in Portland is similar in that it is a large grassy expanse with large trees but also their statues are of a rare black hawk from the tropics that came to visit and an enormous pine cone. Then there are magic things like the duck pond.

Later at 11:15, we walked down to catch the noon ferry that makes stops at most of the islands (Peaks Island has its own passenger and car ferry). On the way to Chebeague, we passed Cliff Island which so far remains my favorite. Most of the roads are about golf cart width and dirt. It is just very sweet. The folded clouds were very eye-catching.

Then we arrived at Chebeague Island. This is the view as you get off the ferry. Significantly more pines and firs. Of course, it rained on us, mostly a drizzle.

Around the bend was this little rusty go-cart thing with a speedometer. It's pretty cool. They should put pedals and then it could be a human-powered go-cart. I'm pretty sure there used to be an engine that got removed for other projects.

Beautiful pond with cattails

We discovered this beach with much lobstering gear. I just loved that there was a truck parked on the beach. It would be terrible if everyone did it but the lack of regulation that where this can happen when needed and it isn't a big deal and it doesn't mean everyone thinks they can park on the beach is wonderful.

This is what the beach is made up of...

Around the bend were these great black rocks that look like enormous wood from extra large trees and this strange seaweed that looks like sea monster hair.

The second beach we visited was a tiny little cove that was still and perfect. It was so much better than the picture captured.

On our way back from this beach just at the side of the road with no house to be seen was this basketball hoop hooked to a tree.

Darn. We missed this.

Beautiful shimmering ocean as we waited for the ferry to arrive.

Always a wonderful site, after a long day that the ferry shows up right on time. Aren't these ferries out of some storybook? Just so cute. This is the Wabanaki.

This is the view of the ferry docking area. As we parked a paddle boat for 12 people went by. They were also serving drinks and seemed to be having a riot.

It was a super fun day and I'm totally tired. Find something fun to do, it is the weekend.

Sending oodles of love, Tawnia